WASHINGTON (AFP) – The United States and Germany on Thursday (Jan 27) warned Russia that a major gas pipeline is at stake if it invades Ukraine as Washington voiced hope for a diplomatic way out despite frigid statements from Moscow.
A day after the United States and its allies formally responded to security demands issued by Russia, top officials in Moscow said their chief concerns were not addressed but notably did not rule out new talks.
The United States has warned Russia of swift and severe consequences if it invades Ukraine after Moscow amassed tens of thousands of troops on the border with its Western-leaning neighbour.
Following worries in the West about divisions within Europe, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told parliament that her government is “working on a strong package of sanctions” alongside allies that would include Nord Stream 2. The pipeline, which Germany has defiantly built despite criticism by the United States and Eastern Europeans, will more than double supplies of Russian natural gas to Europe’s largest economy.
In Washington, a top official voiced confidence that an invasion would stop Germany from activating the multibillion-dollar project, which was completed in September but still requires testing and regulatory approval.
“If Russia invades Ukraine, one way or another, Nord Stream 2 will not move forward,” said Victoria Nuland, the under secretary of state for political affairs. “I think the statements coming out of Berlin even today are very, very strong,” she told reporters.
The White House also announced that Germany’s new chancellor, Olaf Scholz, will visit on Feb 7 to discuss Russia’s “aggression against Ukraine” with President Joe Biden. Mr Biden also spoke on Thursday by telephone with Volodymyr Zelensky, whose government a day earlier engaged in marathon talks in Paris with Russia in a separate bid to decrease tensions.
Mr Zelensky tweeted afterwards that he and Mr Biden discussed efforts at de-escalation and joint actions for the future, as well as potential US financial support for Ukraine following hundreds of millions of dollars of military aid. NATO has put 8,500 troops on standby over the Ukraine crisis, in scenes reminiscent of the Cold War with the Soviet Union.
‘Only one decider’
Russia denies any plans to invade but last month demanded wide-ranging security guarantees from the West, including that Ukraine never be allowed to join the US-led NATO military alliance. Washington on Wednesday delivered a reply in coordination with NATO allies, saying that Ukraine had the right to determine its own allies but offering Russia talks on missile placements and other mutual concerns.
In its first reaction to the reply, the Kremlin was unimpressed but cautious. “It cannot be said that our views were taken into account,” President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. “Let’s not rush into assessments; it takes time to analyse,” he said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow’s chief concern – the potential for Ukraine to join NATO – had been ignored, but that it would be possible to move forward on other issues. “There is a response which gives hope for the start of a serious conversation on secondary questions,” Mr Lavrov said.
Ms Nuland quipped that the most important takeaway from the Russian response is that Mr Putin has the documents. “There’s only one decider in Moscow and that is President Putin,” Ms Nuland said. “We hope he will see here a real opportunity for a legacy of security and arms control rather than a legacy of war,” she said. “The ball is in their court.”
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